Working Men's College, Melbourne facts for kids
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RMIT Building 1 (Francis Ormond Building)
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former Working Men's College (left building) from La Trobe Street
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| Type | college of further education |
|---|---|
| Established | 1887 |
| Founder | The Hon. Francis Ormond |
| Location |
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37°48′32″S 144°57′55″E / 37.8088°S 144.9652°E |
| Nickname | "The College" |
The Working Men's College was a special school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It offered advanced learning for people who wanted to improve their skills. It was started in 1887 by Francis Ormond, a kind and important person who was also a parliamentarian.
This college was the first step towards what is now known as RMIT University. Today, the original building of the college is called RMIT Building 1, also known as the Francis Ormond Building.
Contents
How the College Started
The Working Men's College was first thought of in 1881 by Francis Ormond. He was a wealthy farmer and a philanthropist, which means he liked to help others. He gave £5000 to help set up the college.
The Council of the Melbourne Trades Hall then gathered money from its members to match Ormond's donation. This helped make the college a reality.
On 4 June 1887, the college officially opened its doors. It was in a building specially built for it on Bowen Street and La Trobe Street in Melbourne. This college was the third place to offer higher education in the new Colony of Victoria. The other two were the Melbourne Athenaeum (started in 1839) and the University of Melbourne (started in 1853).
The College Building
The college building was built in two main parts.
First Part of the Building
The first part of the building was called the "Bowen Street Wing." It was designed by architects Terry & Oakden and Nahum Barnet. This section included the main lecture hall, workshops for practical learning, classrooms, and living areas for the caretaker.
It cost £10,600 to build this first part. The money came from Francis Ormond's first donation and the funds raised by the Trades Hall Council. The builder for this stage was "James Moore of Sandridge Road."
Second Part of the Building
The second part, called the "La Trobe Street Wing," and a tall tower block were added in 1890. This part was designed by Percy Oakden, Addison & Kemp. It cost £13,700.
This addition was paid for by money left by Francis Ormond, who had passed away the year before, and some money from the government. When it was finished in 1892, the La Trobe Street wing had offices, rooms for the College Council and teachers, large classrooms, and special labs for photography and chemistry on the top floor.
In the 1890s, the college was next to the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Melbourne Gaol. Today, these historic buildings are also part of RMIT University.
Modern Updates to the Building
In 2008, more than 120 years after it first opened, the building was officially recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and by the Melbourne City Council.
The building was updated between 2008 and 2011 by Peter Elliot Architecture and Kane Constructions. New features were added to make it more modern and eco-friendly. These include:
- Collecting rainwater to use later.
- Solar water heating to warm water using the sun.
- Smart lighting systems that save energy.
- New glass stairways and open areas.
- A new elevator.
- Bringing back some of the building's original design features.
The updates also created a new university lawn with tanks underground to store rainwater.
Gallery
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Construction of the Working Men's College c1886
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Ellis Court in front of the Working Men's College (on Bowen Street)
